Foreground, the top of Kakaso'Las Totem Pole. Carved by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Ellen Neel and her uncle Mungo Martin, for Woodward's Department Store, in 1955. Currently at Stanley Park, Vancouver.
Scholar Priya Helweg writes, "Until Ellen Neel emerged as a professional carver in the late 1920s no women are named as carvers in the literature."[1] Neel inspired subsequent First Nation women, such as Freda Diesing (Haida) and Doreen Jensen (Gitksan), to take up carving.[3]
Kakaso'Las Totem Pole. Carved by Kwakwaka'wakw artist Ellen Neel and her uncle Mungo Martin, for Woodward's Department Store, in 1955.
Ellen May (née Newman) Neel (Potlatch name Kakaso'las) was born on November 14, 1916, in Alert Bay, British Columbia.[4] Her parents were both mixed race and she was a member of the Kwakwaka'wakw tribe. Neel learned Northwest carving from her maternal grandfather, Yakuglas/Charlie James, a noted totem carver and from her uncle, the famed sculptor Mungo Martin.[5] While attending St. Michael's residential school Charlie arduously taught Neel line work, old styles, stories and dedication. Her grandfather's education and her hard work led to Neel selling work by the age of 12.[6]
In 1938 Neel married the well-liked roustabout and metal smith, Ted Neel. They moved to Vancouver, and together had seven children. Neel was a stay at home mom, but still completed a few carvings for friends. Then things changed dramatically after Ted suffered a severe stroke. They needed money and Ted no longer could fully support the family. They decided Neel's carving would become an official full-time business. Ted handled the business side of it while Neel designed, carved, and painted.[6]
Career breakthroughs
The family worked together seeking out a subsistence, until Neel completed the Totemland Pole for the Totemland Society (a promotional group for Vancouver) which served as a financial breakthrough.[7] As a speaker in 1948 at the Conference on Native Indian Affairs, Neel furthered her career and became an established artist.[8] After the conference the Parks Board gave her a studio in Stanley Park where she established Totem Art Studios.[9]
In 1948, Neel completed the restoration of several historic totems for the University of British Columbia.[10] She traditionally dedicated a 16 foot-totem to the university in 1950, completing the foyer of a hotel. Soon her sons completed the bulk of carving while she painted production work of six-inch to 18-inch poles for the reliable tourist trade. Though the small poles were the family's bread and butter Neel was able to work on large artistically freeing totems such as the pole commissioned in 1953 for a museum in Denmark.
In 1955, Woodward's Department Store commissioned Neel to create five totem poles for an Edmonton shopping mall. These were returned to the coast in the 1980s, and Neel's son, Robert, restored on that would later stand in Stanley Park.[11]
In 2017, Neel's work was shown in an individual exhibition at the University of Victoria's Legacy Art Gallery.[12] Her work Cedar Mask was exhibited with the Hearts of Our People exhibition of Native women artists at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in 2019.[13]
Children
The children became an integral part of the business developing skills and striking out on their own such as the Neel's son, David. The Neels moved from Vancouver to South Burnaby, then White Rock, and finally Aldergrove, British Columbia. The children began their own lives, but would send money as things were beginning to get hard for the Neels. Their son John stayed with them and would help Neel carve. Robert "Bob" Neel became a carver in his own right.[14]
Death
By 1961 Ted and Ellen were consistently dealing with health problems. In September 1961, their son Dave died in a car crash. Then by 1965 the market was declining for Neel. Everything was deteriorating quickly and Neel died in 1966.[14]
Legacy
Ellen Neel played a crucial role in establishing Native arts as a viable way for Natives to support their communities and continue their heritage. In 1985 the UBC Museum of Anthropology erected one of the totem poles they had commissioned from Neel in Stanley Park, where it is still on display.[7] The totem pole she donated to the University of British Columbia was recreated by master carvers and rededicated in 2004 with an elaborate ceremony presided over by the Kwakwaka'wakw Chief of the Heiltsuk Nation and Master of Ceremonies Edwin Newman.[2]
Ellen's grandson David Neel is a carver, jeweler, painter, photographer, and author active today in British Columbia.
^ abLewis, Shauna. Victory Through Honour: The Ellen Neel Kwakwaka'wakw pole returns to its home at the University of British Columbia. 2009-02-15 at the Wayback MachineFirst Nation's Drum. (retrieved 23 April 2009)
^Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists. Seattle : University of Washington Press. 2019.
References
Helweg, Priya Anne. Why Shouldn't We Live in Technicolor Like Everyone Else... Evolving Traditions: Professional Northwest Coast First Nations Women Artists." 1990 (PDF, retrieved 26 April 2009)
Nuytten, Phil. The Totem Carvers: Charlie James, Ellen Neel, and Mungo Martin. Vancouver: Panorama Publications, Ltd., 1982. ISBN0-919317-02-2.
Stewart, Hillary. Looking at Totem Poles. Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1993. ISBN0-295-97259-9.
External links
Obituary from the North Island Gazette
Totem Pole Carver Ellen Neel 1916-1966. TheCanadaSite.
May 04, 2023
ellen, neel, 1916, 1966, kwakwakaʼwakw, artist, woodcarver, first, woman, known, have, professionally, carved, totem, poles, came, from, alert, british, columbia, work, public, collections, throughout, world, foreground, kakaso, totem, pole, carved, kwakwaka, . Ellen Neel 1916 1966 was a Kwakwakaʼwakw artist woodcarver and is the first woman known to have professionally carved totem poles 1 2 She came from Alert Bay British Columbia and her work is in public collections throughout the world Foreground the top of Kakaso Las Totem Pole Carved by Kwakwaka wakw artist Ellen Neel and her uncle Mungo Martin for Woodward s Department Store in 1955 Currently at Stanley Park Vancouver Scholar Priya Helweg writes Until Ellen Neel emerged as a professional carver in the late 1920s no women are named as carvers in the literature 1 Neel inspired subsequent First Nation women such as Freda Diesing Haida and Doreen Jensen Gitksan to take up carving 3 Kakaso Las Totem Pole Carved by Kwakwaka wakw artist Ellen Neel and her uncle Mungo Martin for Woodward s Department Store in 1955 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career breakthroughs 3 Children 4 Death 5 Legacy 6 Exhibits 7 Notes 8 References 9 External linksEarly life EditEllen May nee Newman Neel Potlatch name Kakaso las was born on November 14 1916 in Alert Bay British Columbia 4 Her parents were both mixed race and she was a member of the Kwakwaka wakw tribe Neel learned Northwest carving from her maternal grandfather Yakuglas Charlie James a noted totem carver and from her uncle the famed sculptor Mungo Martin 5 While attending St Michael s residential school Charlie arduously taught Neel line work old styles stories and dedication Her grandfather s education and her hard work led to Neel selling work by the age of 12 6 In 1938 Neel married the well liked roustabout and metal smith Ted Neel They moved to Vancouver and together had seven children Neel was a stay at home mom but still completed a few carvings for friends Then things changed dramatically after Ted suffered a severe stroke They needed money and Ted no longer could fully support the family They decided Neel s carving would become an official full time business Ted handled the business side of it while Neel designed carved and painted 6 Career breakthroughs EditThe family worked together seeking out a subsistence until Neel completed the Totemland Pole for the Totemland Society a promotional group for Vancouver which served as a financial breakthrough 7 As a speaker in 1948 at the Conference on Native Indian Affairs Neel furthered her career and became an established artist 8 After the conference the Parks Board gave her a studio in Stanley Park where she established Totem Art Studios 9 In 1948 Neel completed the restoration of several historic totems for the University of British Columbia 10 She traditionally dedicated a 16 foot totem to the university in 1950 completing the foyer of a hotel Soon her sons completed the bulk of carving while she painted production work of six inch to 18 inch poles for the reliable tourist trade Though the small poles were the family s bread and butter Neel was able to work on large artistically freeing totems such as the pole commissioned in 1953 for a museum in Denmark In 1955 Woodward s Department Store commissioned Neel to create five totem poles for an Edmonton shopping mall These were returned to the coast in the 1980s and Neel s son Robert restored on that would later stand in Stanley Park 11 In 2017 Neel s work was shown in an individual exhibition at the University of Victoria s Legacy Art Gallery 12 Her work Cedar Mask was exhibited with the Hearts of Our People exhibition of Native women artists at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in 2019 13 Children EditThe children became an integral part of the business developing skills and striking out on their own such as the Neel s son David The Neels moved from Vancouver to South Burnaby then White Rock and finally Aldergrove British Columbia The children began their own lives but would send money as things were beginning to get hard for the Neels Their son John stayed with them and would help Neel carve Robert Bob Neel became a carver in his own right 14 Death EditBy 1961 Ted and Ellen were consistently dealing with health problems In September 1961 their son Dave died in a car crash Then by 1965 the market was declining for Neel Everything was deteriorating quickly and Neel died in 1966 14 Legacy EditEllen Neel played a crucial role in establishing Native arts as a viable way for Natives to support their communities and continue their heritage In 1985 the UBC Museum of Anthropology erected one of the totem poles they had commissioned from Neel in Stanley Park where it is still on display 7 The totem pole she donated to the University of British Columbia was recreated by master carvers and rededicated in 2004 with an elaborate ceremony presided over by the Kwakwaka wakw Chief of the Heiltsuk Nation and Master of Ceremonies Edwin Newman 2 Ellen s grandson David Neel is a carver jeweler painter photographer and author active today in British Columbia Exhibits EditHearts of Our People Native Women Artists 2019 Minneapolis Institute of Art Minneapolis Minnesota United States 15 Notes Edit a b Priya 10 a b Lewis Shauna Victory Through Honour The Ellen Neel Kwakwaka wakw pole returns to its home at the University of British Columbia Archived 2009 02 15 at the Wayback Machine First Nation s Drum retrieved 23 April 2009 Priya 14 Nuytten 43 Amos Robert February 5 2017 A lifetime of visionary totem pole art Times Colonist Retrieved November 9 2019 a b Nuytten 44 a b Totem poles most visited site in B C Archived 2008 08 19 at the Wayback Machine Vancouver Sun 2 August 2008 retrieved through Canada com 23 April 2009 Neel Travis The words of Ellen Neel April 1948 retrieved 23 April 2009 Nuytten 51 Stewart 52 and 86 Stewart 86 Lederman Marsha February 27 2017 Our women have always carved The Globe and Mail Retrieved November 9 2019 Yohe Jill Ahlberg Greeves Teri 2019 Hearts of Our People Native Women Artists Minneapolis Minneapolis Institute of Art ISBN 9780295745794 a b Stewart 133 Hearts of Our People Native Women Artists Seattle University of Washington Press 2019 References EditHelweg Priya Anne Why Shouldn t We Live in Technicolor Like Everyone Else Evolving Traditions Professional Northwest Coast First Nations Women Artists 1990 PDF retrieved 26 April 2009 Nuytten Phil The Totem Carvers Charlie James Ellen Neel and Mungo Martin Vancouver Panorama Publications Ltd 1982 ISBN 0 919317 02 2 Stewart Hillary Looking at Totem Poles Vancouver Douglas amp McIntyre 1993 ISBN 0 295 97259 9 External links EditObituary from the North Island Gazette Victory Through Honour The Ellen Neel Kwakwaka wakw pole returns to its home at the University of British Columbia Totem Pole Carver Ellen Neel 1916 1966 TheCanadaSite Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ellen Neel amp oldid 1139827199, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
